A state-of-the-art review of safety leading indicators across diverse industries

Numerous studies have explored Safety Leading Indicators (SLIs) and their impact on safety performance across industries. However, inconsistent use of these SLIs hinders the comparison of findings and the drawing of conclusions. Thus, there is a demand for standardised SLIs that can be universally implemented across sectors, aiming to enhance safety performance. To address this, a comprehensive Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted in this paper. The SLR employs the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) protocol for systematic searches, followed by conducting scientometric analysis, content analysis, identification of research gaps, and the proposal of potential future streams. Using an evidence quality assessment method, 67 SLIs were discovered. "Task characteristics" displayed the most relationships with other SLIs, while "training and education" appeared most frequently. Moreover, it is observed that the existing literature lacks consideration of the utilisation of emerging approaches such as AI-based techniques and digitalisation, thereby limiting improvements in occupational safety and health (OSH). The findings from this SLR provide valuable insights to safety professionals and managers, aiding the development of safety policies and programs by emphasising key SLIs that contribute to safety performance, which, in turn, improves OSH across multiple industries and regions.